Os Cegos Guiando os Cegos ft some real talk

3/20/17
Hey guys! I can't believe it's PDay again already; this past week flew by so fast and I have SO MANY THINGS I want to say. Also sorry in advance for how long this email is

Funny stories:

So hahaha we were visiting one of the member's in the ward and haha he may have started making fun of my and Sister German's acne and calling us adolescents haha and jokingly (jokingly?) suggested Acnase cream and haha let's just say what was more ironic about this situation was that I had literally just bought Acnase cream two hours earlier and it was in my backpack when he said this and I'm not sure why I'm sharing this story haha but in the moment it was really funny.

OH and we were walking down the street and found a guy selling caldo de cana (sugar cane juice) and he literally chopped up the sugar cane with a machete in his truckbed and fed it through this big machine and it was so good and he kept offering us more and we were like no thanks we're full we've had too much and then he pointed at me and told me to say, "Eu não posso tomar mais; eu estou cheia," which translates to "I can't drink more, I'm full," And so of course I repeated it back to him (or thought I did) and the street was so loud that I literally YELLED back at him, "EU NÃO POSSO TOMAR MAIS; EU SOU FEIA" and him and his wife and S German started laughing and a minute later I realized that I yelled back at him, "I can't drink more; I AM UGLY." hahaha então that was my funny language mistake of the week.

And then we also did divisions this week, when we trade companions for a day to learn more about how other sister's teach and just to practice in different ways and my companion is the Sister Training Leader/leader over the sisters in our area so she went on divisions with another sister and somehow I ended up on divisions with a sister who just arrived last week AKA greenie me trying to guide an even greenier greenie and let's just say all our plans fell and I thought that I could read a map but apparently I was mistaken and let's just say we were like 75% lost and ended up outside the boundaries or our area?? I don't know how this happened?? haha let's just say my one day as senior companion was definitely a learning experience (aka I learned how to read a map)

Spiritual things:

Natália came to church again! She's seriously awesome. We started teaching her boyfriend, Jorge, too and I can see that they are all using the gospel as a way to strengthen their families and that is so cool. The gospel really is meant to be shared in the home, as a way to strengthen the love between everyone their and to provide a place where lessons can be taught and questions asked in a loving atmosphere. 

And we started teaching Natália's landlord, too! Her name is Anapaula and she's reading every night and understanding everything we're teaching and praying every day and HOLY COW we have all three of them marked for baptism on the same day aka SO MUCH LOVE and hearts around that house. I seriously love everyone there. That house has a special place in mine & Sister German's hearts.

Okay real talk now. I don't know if my emails seem like I'm happy and cheery all the time as a missionary because if that's how they seem, then just wanna say that it's not true. A mission is one of the hardest things I have done in my life and this week the feelings of inadequacy and failure multiplied times a million. I have felt like I am not bubbly enough as a missionary, not outgoing enough. I don't know the language and I don't know how to talk to people and I have been asking myself why on earth God would let me be a missionary. Why would he allow someone with a personality like mine preach this gospel when it seems that everyone loves and wants to talk to the fun and happy and outgoing ones? What is the point of me being here? Am I just here to fill the spot as somebody's companion? These thoughts have been running through my mind all week and it's been rough. But in the past couple days I have realized a few things:

1. My companion/trainer is absolutely awesome and loving and patient and is always there to help me.

2. Thoughts like these would NEVER come from a loving Heavenly Father. 

No matter how useless I feel, God has a purpose for me being here. The only one who would try to convince me - or anybody -  otherwise is the Adversary  and he is trying to destroy this work and our happiness. God loves us and has a purpose for us, no matter where we are in the world. I wish I could go back in time and slap myself into reality that I am doing something. I am a representative of Jesus Christ and He uses everyone who is willing to progress His work here on the earth. I can't stress this enough. I love this gospel and I am so so so grateful for the support and prayers of everybody. This has been a trying and yet amazing week and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve a mission. I know that there is nowhere else I could be right now where I could learn as much and serve God as much as I am here.

I love you all!

Todo o meu amor,

Sister Morata

Photos:

WHOOO BYU reppin´

the tan lines are REAL

trying to explain the old guy selling caldo de cano how to use my camera haha

self timer gone wrong

did anybody else watch Sagwa the Chinese Cat when they were a kid or just me??/